Fourth of July

We had a pretty fun Independence Day this year. In the morning, our ward had a breakfast at Falcon Field Park, which is right by Falcon Field Airport, a small airport in Mesa. Elise had breakfast before we left, but she still ate five sausage links, and probably would have eaten more if we would have offered them to her. The morning was overcast and lovely. The high that day was only about 90°, a perfect day to play on the playground (it has been too hot for Elise to play on playgrounds outside here for months). She thoroughly enjoyed the food, the kids, the playground equipment, the weather, and the airplanes. I don't know how she could've had a better morning.

This one makes me laugh because it looks like she's putting her hand over her heart.

Later, we joined up with my sister Holly's family for dinner and to see the fireworks. At their house, there was an enormous, disgusting frog by the trashcans outside. Elise still talks about that frog over a month later, so I had to include a picture (although I'm not really sure why I took a picture in the first place).

 cute cousins

 Holly's family, waiting for the fireworks to start

one with Grammi included 

(Elise loves Grammi like she's her third grandmother.)

Grammi brought glow sticks for the kids, which they loved. Leighton and Ryland played like theirs were light sabers, Savannah wore them like jewelry, and Elise had to have hers taken away because she bit right through it. Typical.

Elise stayed awake the entire night, even though she had almost no nap that day (trying to put her down for a nap for hours was definitely the worst part of the day). She enjoyed the fireworks, though, and fell asleep almost as soon as we got in the car to go home. All in all, I'd say it was a pretty fantastic Fourth.

Nesting

There has been a lot of nesting going on around here. By Elise, not by me. Actually, I feel like our house is totally unprepared to receive the new baby that will be here next month (though we are so excited for her to come). No, the nesting is all Elise's doing.

Elise's kind of nesting is not the same as a pregnant woman's nesting. Elise likes to make nests, like a bird. More specifically, she likes to sit on things in her Bumbo seat, especially balls (she's been a little obsessed with balls lately).

[And she likes to play in her crib throughout the day, which is why she is in her crib in these pictures. Totally her idea, and she just asks and I get her out whenever she wants.]

She also enjoys putting puzzle pieces in her Bumbo. This is her teddy bear sitting on a nest of puzzle pieces.

She often puts the pieces from all three of her puzzles together into the Bumbo, then does all three puzzles at once.

Happy

A few minutes ago, while Elise was eating a cheese stick and sitting on my lap, she told me twice that she was happy. And that made me very happy, too.

I love this cheerful, wonderful little girl, and I love how easy she is to please. It's hard not to be happy when she is happy.

Life is but a Dream

I have tons of pictures I want to post to update our blog, from the last month or so, including pictures from the Fourth of July and more from our trip to the South to visit family. The task seems a little daunting, but here's a little something from yesterday, just for fun.

Sorry you have to hear me sing. Elise sings this song pretty well, but she rarely almost never performs for the camera.

Lions and Tigers and Elephants, Oh My!

We went to the circus on opening night last week, and we had so much fun. We got there a little early and got to see the preshow (free to all ticket holders), which included elephants, clowns, and a bounce house. Elise was a little too young for the busy bounce house, but she loved seeing the elephants and dancing with the "silly clowns."

an elephant painting a picture

Matt and Elise at the preshow

 The show was excellent. We had a lot of fun watching together. I loved the trapeze acts and the and the horse riding.

These riders reminded me of something from Bears on Wheels. So crazy!

Elise was a big fan of the animals. She loved the elephants, and she also got excited about the lions and tigers. There were all kinds of other animals, from cats and dogs to goats and horses, all doing really cool tricks.

the lion/tiger tamer

She was pretty excited...

...and there were much cooler things to look at than the camera.

Matt and Elise enjoying the show

The elephants were pretty amazing. 

Another of Elise's favorite parts of the show was all the motorcycles. I can't believe these drivers. They got up to eight motorcycles going at once in that ball!

It was a really fun time, and I'm so glad we were able to go!

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine. 

Circus Tomorrow!

We're going to the circus tomorrow! I can't wait to see Elise's face. I haven't been to the circus since I was a little kid, and I'm pretty excited. If you're interested in show times, a coupon code, or other important details, be sure to check out my previous post. You can also visit ringling.com for info.

© 2012 Feld Entertainment

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.

Circus!

We're so excited to be taking Elise to the circus for the first time ever! This show looks amazing! If you're in the Phoenix area and are interested in going, keep reading for a special coupon code.

© [2012] Feld Entertainment

Legendary Once-in-a-Millennium Event Celebrating The Year of the Dragon!

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents DRAGONS

Coming To Phoenix June 27 – July 2, 2012

WHAT: Let The Dragon Games Begin! Searching the farthest reaches of the globe, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey has gathered the best of the best circus performers to honor the Spirit of the Dragon! Ringmaster Johnathan Lee Iverson presides over this fantastical tournament of champions that brings together mystic dragon lore with astounding circus feats of bravery and athleticism that will take you on a wondrous journey to discover what it takes to believe in your dreams. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents DRAGONS is a never-before-seen circus adventure of legend and spectacle coming to US Airways Center from June 27–July 2.

Representing mighty “Dragon Tribes” that possess the Strength, Courage, Wisdom and Heart of the great mythic beast, some of the extraordinary performers in The Greatest Show On Earth include:

•  Famed Shaolin Warriors display ancient Kung Fu martial arts and unbelievable strength

• Making his American debut is Alexander Lacey presenting the only mixed-cat act of its kind in the United States featuring both tigers and lions together

• Cossack Riders charge the arena floor with unrivaled equestrian acrobatics

• Like the mighty winged Sky Dragons, the Flying Caceres amaze with their aerial bravado on the only double-decker trapeze in the world

• Plus even more remarkable displays that pay tribute to the dragon including the frenzied daredevil motorcyclists in the Globe of Steel, high-flying thrills from the Russian Bar and Teeterboard troupes, exciting double motorcycle high-wire stunts, and of course the majestic Asian elephants.

Be sure to come out one hour early to each performance to meet our performers and animals on the show floor at the interactive All Access Pre-Show, FREE admission to all ticket holders.


WHEN: Wednesday, June 27 – Monday, July 2

Wednesday, June 27 7:00 PM

Thursday, June 28 11:00 AM & 7:00 PM

Friday, June 29 11:00 AM & 7:00 PM

Saturday, June 30 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Sunday, July 1 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

Monday, July 2 11:00 AM

WHERE: US Airways Center – 201 E. Jefferson Street Phoenix, AZ 85004

TICKETS: Ticket prices are $15, $25, $40 (VIP), $60 (Front Row) and $90 (Circus Celebrity)

Kids tickets (under 12 years) are only $10 each (restrictions apply to price levels and performances)

Save 50% on Opening Night tickets with special Half Off discount (not valid for VIP or premium tickets)

All seats are reserved; tickets available thru Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or visit the US Airways Center Box Office.

Discount offer – $5 off tickets in the $15 and $25 price levels.

$5 Off with code MOM5
· P5 & P6 only
· No double discounts

Valid on all show days and times EXCEPT Opening Night (Opening Night tickets are 50% off, excluding front row and VIP seating)


Tickets can be found at http://www.ticketmaster.com/.

Come join us for a night of fun with the family!

For more information, visit www.Ringling.com or visit us on Facebook and YouTube.

I am a Feld Family Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and opportunities to attend private Feld pre-Show events. Even though I receive these benefits, I always give an opinion that is 100% mine.